Lies & Weddings by Kevin Kwan

I'm not sure when I last delved into a romantic comedy novel. Reading Kevin Kwan for the first time has been a delight. The storyline is straightforward, and the short chapters make it easy to follow.

Some of the contemporaries' novels depict Asian-American mothers in a way that includes mocking and racist tones, yet they accurately capture scenes from the modern world. What I like the most is the friendship between the main characters proving that good deeds are all that matter.

It's about Augie, Bea and Rufus Leung Gresham, the British-Chinese who made up the noblest family in the country and were raised alongside their best friend, Eden Tong, a girl next door. No one had any inkling that behind stories of glamorous Gresham rose a mountain of debt. Arabella Gresham, their mother's extravagant ambitions of expenses only made things worse. The only way to solve the problem is to exploit her children to marry for money. Filled with a luxurious lifestyle that I never knew existed, and humorously tragic situations when things don't go according to plan. Money cannot buy love, but money increases the chances of finding true love. The ending was kinda of pretentious but it was a fun read.

The Secret by Andrew Child

Well, another story about a hero who puts himself in danger to save America. Jack Reacher is smart, strong, proficient in hand-to-hand combat and also has strong deduction skills and is known as an exceptional investigator. It began with secret government research that happened in India in 1969 that involved a program to make antidotes against chemical and biological weapons. The incident had caused a thousand death toll of innocent people. Of course, the American government could be embarrassed if the revelations were out.

Yet there are numbers of retired scientists who had worked in 1969 had been murdered. To stop the chaos, Reacher digs up another evidence of brewing up the sabotage. It is a standard cliche in the world of one's action-hero figure but a fun read. The Secret is the twenty-eighth book in the Jack Reacher series btw.

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

This book is one of my favourite reads of the year. It follows the story of Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a young girl researching a school project on a missing girl, Andie Bell, who disappeared five years ago. Her blood was found in the trunk of her deserted vehicle, leading to enough evidence to incriminate her boyfriend, Sal Singh. However, Sal was discovered dead from suicide.

Despite Andie's body never being found, Pippa remains hopeful that her investigation will reveal evidence proving Sal's innocence. She is convinced that the police made a mistake by prematurely closing the case. Her interviews with family and close friends revealed widespread speculation about the truth behind Andie Bell.

I was drawn to the concept of the protagonist being an amateur sleuth who keeps stumbling upon new information related to the two major tragedies that shaped her life.

The Winner by Teddy Wayne

Conor O'Toole, facing challenges in seeking an actual job and balancing bar exam studies, seized the chance to teach tennis in a gated community during the pandemic. A friend, John Price generously offered the use of his guesthouse in exchange for a tennis lesson. 

Little did he know, that teaching Catherine Remsen would lead to a flirtatious encounter. He also became acquainted with Emily, Catherine's daughter. Entangling himself with both a mother and her daughter seemed like a complicated situation from tennis to infidelity.

To be honest, I found myself getting a bit bored halfway through the book due to slow-paced but things became more complex and engaging as it progressed. It may not be a perfect murder mystery, but it's still quite thrilling. Without giving away any spoilers, I can guarantee that the culprit will be apprehended in time.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for this uncorrected proof copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

The Mother Act by Heidi Reimer

Around two decades ago, Sadie Jones decided to leave her husband and daughter, Judith, to focus on her career as an actress and a provocative feminist. She insists her experience is valid and important to shape the direction of life. 

After several years, she tried to reconcile with her estranged daughter. She sees her daughter's organized life as mundane and has never felt like she belonged in social circles. The story unfolds through the alternating viewpoints of Sadie and Judith, delving into the complexities of their mother-daughter relationships as they revisit the past, ultimately leaving Judith deeply affected. At the same time, both characters are unlikeable but understandable. You know what I mean? Hehe. They were nothing alike temperamentally but difficult the same. The ending appeals to me. It's clear that both parenthood and relationships require a considerable amount of time, sacrifice, and understanding. 4 ⭐️ 

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher

I absolutely loved the main character's portrayal in the book! Florence Butterfield is such a remarkable lead, full of charisma and charm. Despite her age and disability, she's incredibly observant and insightful, and I couldn't get enough of her. The setting of Babbington Hall Residential Home and Assisted Living provided the perfect backdrop for the mysterious accidents and Flo's determination to solve the mystery. 

While it took me some time to get into the book at first, I soon found myself thoroughly enjoying the author's writing style. The friendship between Flo and Pinky, her seventy years of secret, and her life after divorce are delightful and add an extra layer of intrigue to the story. This book beautifully captures the essence of melancholy in a way that surprised and intrigued me. It's a slow-paced but poignant tale of desire and dread, centred on friendship, family and search for love that truly warmed my heart. 4.3 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

Table For Two by Amor Towles

I enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. The most obvious is that there are so many life lessons written in between these pages with assembles of outstanding characters. I think short stories are much harder to love than novels, but this proves otherwise. Not all good writers are good storytellers and vice versa. But Amor Towles excels at both. To sum up, it deserves a solid 4.5 ⭐️. Here are some of my thoughts.

1. The Line

- Pushkin and his wife were peasants as they moved from the countryside to Moscow during the 19th century. Pushkin ends up waiting in line to obtain the necessities for his household. He had been revealed as a man of considerable talent and turned society into a productive citizen. It's a thought-provoking satire and resonated with me.

2. The Ballad of Timothy Touchett

- Timothy was determined to be a novelist. He met Peter Pennybrook, a purveyor of used and rare editions. The twist with the job offer involving forging a signature was unexpected and intriguing.

3. Hasta Luego

- His flight was delayed, and Jerry had a brief encounter with an approachable man named Smith. When Smith's wife called anxiously asking for Jerry's help, he could have chosen to ignore her plea. However, he didn't. 

4. I Will Survive

- This story revolves around Peggy, who thinks her husband is having an affair. It is a bit cliche theme, but being told from a first-person point of view added another interesting layer to the marriage insight.

5. The Bootlegger

- Tommy and his wife are a concertgoer. He found an old man beside him, recording the concert. The event left a lasting impression on Tommy. 

6. The Didomenico Fragment

- Renaissance art was one of Percival Skinner's specialities. The DiDomenico fragment, a painting from 1475 that was in his family's possession, has attracted the interest of an agent.

7. Eve In Hollywood

- This novella follows Evelyn Ross, the inherent optimism and boldness lady who'd come out of nowhere. She became a good friend to young actress, Olivia. When Olivia is being blackmailed, she is determined to find the culprit with help from a friend. It gave off film noir vibes in the Golden Age of Hollywood!

 

This is my first time reading by the author but definitely not the last.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing and Izah for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store